Date of Award

4-2019

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Geological and Environmental Sciences

First Advisor

Dr. Michelle A. Kominz

Second Advisor

Dr. Peter Voice

Third Advisor

Dr. Stephen Kaczmarek

Keywords

subsidence, maturation, modeling, Michigan, hydrocarbons

Access Setting

Masters Thesis-Open Access

Abstract

Given present day heat flow and burial depths in the Michigan Basin, hydrocarbons should be immature. However, oil and gas are abundant within the basin. Our hypothesis is that thermal maturation distributions in the Michigan Basin can be explained by variations in proximity to the Midcontinent Rift (MCR) system, thermal cooling, crustal convection, high temperature fluid advection, and eroded overburden.

For each of the seven wells in this study, a geohistory plot is coupled with a range of geodynamic models to calculate the thermal and maturation histories of each sediment unit within the well. Backstripping was used to generate basement heat flow estimates. Time temperature index values are calculated based on the thermal models. Comparison of calculated time temperature index values and recorded thermal maturation data from surrounding wells are used to test the hypothesis.

Calculations show that well locations above the MCR (Grand Traverse, Missaukee, Gratiot, and Livingston) require 1000 m of eroded overburden, thermal cooling, crustal convection, and high temperature fluid advection to match surrounding thermal maturation data in the Michigan Basin. Well locations away from the MCR (Ogemaw and Lenawee) require 1000 m of eroded overburden, thermal cooling, and high temperature fluid advection to match surrounding thermal maturation data in the Michigan Basin.

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